This subject is gonna make and break the situation when you want to re-do the kitchen cabinets and the flooring at different times. I know this may not be a wonderful exciting subject to talk about, however, there are very important things that you need to consider.

Flooring should always go down 1st and under the kitchen cabinets. This also applies to bathrooms too. There are issues and consequences that will arise if this is not done in the proper order.

If you wish to do the floor 1st then you will have the heights of the counters compromised depending on the flooring you select. Say your existing floor is ceramic floor which is laid with thin-set and is only maybe 3/8″ thick and the new flooring is 1/2-3/4″ thick. Your counters then become lower because the floor is thicker and this also effects the toe-kick space. If you wish to lay marble, travertine, or a large porcelain these products need to be laid in mud making this double in thickness….say maybe now the total thickness is 1 1/2″- 2″ Big difference to top of counter now. If you are a tall person, you will really notice the height issue

It is also more difficult to change a floor after new cabinets are installed because the flooring has to be cut out around the cabinets and possibly taking a chance in gashing the cabinets when removing the old floor.

Hope you find this helpful and good luck with your project. Any questions, please feel free to ask.

This window is difficult to treat and I have seen many of them. They seem to be very popular in homes in the northeast. I guess the architect did not want to have a large vacant wall so adding additional windows very high lets more light in however this is tough to handle for window treatments. I have done this window and only treated the lower part of the window instead of trying to go for the arch of the window. If you are on a budget then treating the lower part is perfect. If you have a larger budget then a more glamorous treatment can be done maybe with long panels and swags but they need to be important enough to compete with this large scale window.

This drapery treatment appears to be perfect at 1st glance. It’s a great design, plan and execution and then you look again….oh what is that on it? So that something is… a loose piece of trim to dangle on the top of this beautiful window treatment. Please don’t over think…..this was perfect before.

Woven roman grass blinds are expensive and beautiful but hold it people….how about spending just a wee bit more and actually cover the entire window all the way. I never saw anything like this as to begin the blinds lower down from the top of the window! Did the factory make them too short or whose decision was it to agree this is better?

What? OMG there is a beach scrap of wood growing in the bathroom. I bet the plumber would love to come into this bathroom and really love having to make a repair around the bald forest. How about all the dust mites that are also collecting on this through the years. I am sure standing there to brush your teeth is comfortable also. Get with it people….not a good idea!

I think that ceiling are very important in the world of design. First of all, every room comes with them, right? Many ceilings are the last thing anyone thinks about. I think with some of the photos that I will attach may make you think a little different about ceilings in a room. The room design can come to life by giving them a role. Lets just give you some ideas.

Applied moldings – added in easy or intricate patterns plus painted to match the ceiling or highlighted maybe by gold leafing or like.

Beams – they can be sleek to fit into a contemporary style or rustic to fit a chalet or western theme. The sleek ones probably would be painted a beautiful shiny finish and the rustic would probably be stained.

Mirror work with maybe some bamboo fret work applied on top. Very elegant. The bamboo fret work would be fabulous in tortoise shell finish.

Wood – long tongue and groove wood can be applied to ceiling. This of course can be stained or painted. Depends on the theme. Wood like pecky cypress looks beautiful and used frequently outside under a cover terrace/patio.

Painted as accent – use a contrast color as you accent a wall but do it on a ceiling. Creates a very dramatic look.

Handpainted ceiling – Trompe l’oil which is a scene or clouds or scroll painted by an artist to create a sky or say old master artwork.

Fiberoptics – This would maybe be used in a very specifc way say maybe a home theater or a fun room for a child

Brick – This could be say a recycled brick or old chicago brick to create a warmth say in a kitchen or wine cellar.

Coffered – Large squares of beams with crown molding attached to ceiling. This can be a lot of fun. You can contrast paint the drywall part of the ceiling and stain or paint the coffers.

10. Wallpaper – Instead of applying wallpaper to the wall this can be put on the ceiling. Grasscloth looks fabulous on the ceiling giving the room some texture or a great brocade or over all pattern to the ceiling. Here there are just so many options to choose.